My Baby Shower

Leif and I had been working so hard to get the house completed in time for not only the baby but the baby shower. I wanted to have the baby shower at our house simply for the fact that, my friends would never ever see my house if it wasn't for something like this. We live far away from everyone, in New York City standards. Anything you have to take multiple types of transportations, cross bridges, or a boat to get to is considered far. Even if it is free. I am very proud of our house, especially as a designer and wanted to show it off! Not to mention, most of my friends are also designers and would appreciate it just as much as I do. 

Leif wanted to kill me bringing 40 people into our house using 90 year old plumbing. Come to think of it, I don't think many people even used the bathrooms. 

It all started when Shannon was missing me and text me that she wanted to throw me a baby shower. I was very happy because I don't really have too many friends in NYC anymore and did not think I was going to have one. I went back and forth on trying to decide where to have it. Being that all my friends lived in Manhattan and Brooklyn, and all of Leif's family and friends wives live in Staten Island. 

I googled for days trying to find just the right place. It just got expensive. That is when I decided I wanted to have it at our house. Everyone thought that was a good idea. Plus, my Mom, Aunt Nancy, Jennie and Elliot, Shannon, Eric and Ella were all staying with us or near us. Once we had the location set, we needed the date. This was also difficult as I really wanted certain people to be able to make it. We played around with a few dates and finally decided on September 29th. Pretty much 4 weeks until my due date. We were cutting it close however, everyone I wanted to be there was going to be.

Shannon, My Mom, Aunt Nancy, Jennie and Sara all helped organize and plan the day with a little direction from myself. Oh hell, they paid for the damn thing. I fell in love with these meat and cheese or fruit platters from a company out in LA called Lady & Larder. Of course, they did not have a shop here. I called them anyway to see if they did or if they could recommend someone. They recommended Poppy's in Brooklyn. As they were very expensive for platters, we got a meat and cheese platter and decided to make little ham sandwiches and a fruit plate along with a cake and cookies. Aunt Nancy was supplying the rose and we were also having some tea and lemonade. 

Decorations and boxes started arriving for the day and I organized them for when the girls arrived. It was summer and it was hot. I was miserable on my commute and just not feeling well. The week had finally arrived and I could not wait to come home to my Mom. On Wednesday night, the woman who was supposed to come clean our house the following day messaged me at midnight asking if she could come later in the day. I messaged back when I woke up at 3am saying unfortunately, no, I have guests arriving. I had a sneaking suspicion this girl was not going to show up. I was fuming mad. Just as I thought, she was a no show. I called the company many times and messaged the girl. Nothing. Nothing. 

So, I spent the next 8 hours slowly but surely cleaning my entire house for my family and friends who were coming to my house for not only my baby shower but for a housewarming party as well. This was the last piece of the puzzle. Everything had fallen together perfectly. Well, besides from Leif's hand... but that is another story. By the time I was done, I was exhausted. Everything hurt. But, I had a clean house. 

 

Shannon, Eric and Ella were also arriving the same day as my Mom! I was home for their arrival now that I had to clean the house. We stayed in that night hanging out and eating pizza. We went to bed early as we had a very busy day the next day. 

Aunt Nancy, Jennie and Elle arrived the next day, which was a Friday. We picked them up from the airport and started running errands. Their AirBnB was ready for check in so we dropped them off to check in and we finished up decorations. We went to Denino's for dinner that night with Leif's Parents. Everyone kept saying I should just have the baby now as they were all in town! It would be perfect timing! After dinner we were all exhausted and ready for bed.

The next day was the big day! Shannon and I went to Poppy's to get the platters and pick up some hydrangeas. Eric made the sandwiches and helped clean. Aunt Nancy and Jennie made the fruit platters. Leif finished up the final details. When we got back I had to quickly shower while everyone finalized all the details. 

Leif came running upstairs to tell me that they had ruined the cake and I needed to come downstairs and see it. I said well if it's ruined, there is nothing I can do about it now. Then he told me they did the wrong color frosting. I told him I was with them when they picked it up and it was fine. He got really tough with me and told me to go downstairs. So I went downstairs and there was my "God Mother" Bethann waiting for me saying surprise! I stomped my little feet and yelled and ran back upstairs. I was so pissed he bothered me for something that like. If he would have given me just 10 more minutes to finish my hair, makeup and put the dress on I would have been so excited. But he fu**ed with me and I was mad. 

My Mom came up to check on me and help me finish getting ready. Then I went downstairs to see everyone and tell BA I was sorry! People started arriving left and right and I just could not keep up with everyone. I would be in the middle of a conversation with one person I had not seen in six months and a person I had not seen in a year walked in! I was all over the place! I felt horrible that I did not get to spend much time with everyone. Although, I think they understood! I was either giving a tour of the house or chatting with someone. It was wonderful and I felt fantastic. 

We finally cut the cake, which was the most delicious cake I'd ever had, and slowly the party started to die down. Leif and Eric went to lunch and hung out for awhile. Then they came back and he told me he was going to take my friend to the ferry. The next thing I knew, Jennie was flashing her phone around all weird and Shannon walked in and said your last present is outside and in walked Sara! I started crying and ran to give her a big hug! I did not think she was going to make it! It was such a great surprise!

Everyone finally left around 4:30pm, except for Shannon, Eric, Ella, Sara, Mom, Aunt Nancy, Jennie and Elle. We sat down and I opened presents. Something I did not want to do as I was tired and wanted to lay down for a bit. However, my Mother kept insisting! So, I did. I started to have weird pains, which I assumed were gas. They were very random and did not last long at all. An hour and a half later, Mom, Aunt Nancy, Jennie and Elle left to go to their AirBnb and the rest of the gang decided they were hungry. I told them I was going to lay down while they went to get food. When they came back with tacos, I told them I was really not feeling well and the pains were getting more frequent and painful.

At this time, Shannon decided to time them to see if they were contractions. They were about five minutes apart. Leif called the doctors office and while we waited for him to call back, I packed my hospital bag. Thank goodness I was prepared enough with a packing list so I knew what I wanted. At that moment I don't think I could have packed properly. 

The doctor still had not called back but I told Leif let's go to the hospital. So, off we went as a family of two!